Tuesday 13 October 2015

Review: Silence by Natasha Preston


Silence
by Natasha Preston

Series: Silence #1
Genre: Young Adult / Romance
Length: 219 pages
Published on 18th October 2012 by CreateSpace
Purchase: Amazon / B&N / The Book Depository
Natasha Preston: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Freebie from amazon

Synopsis: For eleven years, Oakley Farrell has been silent. At the age of five, she stopped talking, and no one seems to know why. Refusing to communicate beyond a few physical actions, Oakley remains in her own little world.

Bullied at school, she has just one friend, Cole Benson. Cole stands by her, refusing to believe that she is not perfect the way she is. Over the years, they have developed their own version of a normal friendship. However, will it still work as they start to grow even closer?

When Oakley is forced to face someone from her past, can she hold her secret in any longer?

Silence follows Oakley an abuse survivor, just about.

She hasn't spoken for eleven years because of this and whilst it takes most of the book to give the full details on the events that happened, its fairly easy to figure them out earlier on.

Having the main protagonist not speak, at all, was surely an interesting take on things and interesing to read. 

It made the blossoming of hers and Cole's friendship into relationship really intersting and sweet because it illustrated just how well they knew each other regardless of the fact the conversation was one sided. He knew her expressions and feelings very well.

Another positive thing about this book was seeing how much stronger she had gotten over the years when having to face the past very suddenly. 

However I overall felt very meh about this book. I wanted to thoroughly enjoy it but the actual confrontation and resolution of the problem was very rushed and brushed over, if almost like an after thought that having the story be only on her and Cole's relationship was too drab? - it wasn't. 

Then there are the few chapters we get from Cole's point of view... they were just 'eh?

Once the secret is revealed Oakleys decision to deal with it is to move to Australia. She's spent 11 years living with the secret, growing as best she could, starting a relationship, and finally getting the justice she deserves and she ups and leaves.

Part of me agrees this makes sense, but another part makes me feel like a move of house would've been better considering she had already made such progress where she was.

I'm just super conflicted with this book, and after much thought I wont be continuing the series.
2.5 stars / 5 stars
Other books in this series
Broken Silence (Silence, #2) Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages (Silence, #3) Silent Night (Silence, #3.5)

4 comments:

  1. It's a pet peeve of mine when the resolution is flat. What was all the build-up for if not to get to that point?!

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  2. Hmm sorry to hear you are so conflicted about this one.

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  3. It's such a shame you didn't enjoy this that much. Although reading a book with a main character who doesn't speak does sound interesting!

    Lipstick and Mocha

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  4. I need a 'real' resolution too, especially if the background story is as poignant as Oakley's seems to be. I'm sorry this fell flat for you, Lauren!
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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